Novak Djokovic is 32-0 in Beijing after coming from a set down to beat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday, in a quarter-final that lasted more than two and a half hours. He is the first man in the Open Era to win his first 32 matches at a single tournament, passing the 31 Rafael Nadal won to start at Roland-Garros, and he plays Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals on Monday.

The start went against him. Djokovic double-faulted twice and was broken in the opening game, and Zverev took the first set 6-4. Djokovic had two break points when Zverev served for it at 5-4, but the German hit four big serves from 15-40 down to close it out.

Djokovic was blunt about it afterwards.

I had a terrible start. Two double faults at the beginning.

Novak Djokovic, after the match, via Sky Sports

Two breaks at 5-4

The second set turned at 4-4. Djokovic saved a break point in the ninth game and held for 5-4, then broke Zverev to 15 to level the match. In the third, he saved a break point in the third game and the set stayed on serve until 5-4, when Djokovic broke again. Zverev saved one match point and then netted a forehand on the second.

Zverev hit 19 aces to Djokovic's four and made no double faults to his three. Djokovic still won 95 of the 180 points, converted two of his five break points and held 14 of his 15 service games. He won 82 per cent of the points behind his first serve.

The match had a flashpoint too. After a rally that ended with a Zverev forehand error, the umpire reviewed the LED advertising display at the side of the court and ordered the point replayed. Djokovic protested.

These are the kind of moments that I still play for, compete for.

Novak Djokovic, after the match, via The Independent

Highlights of Djokovic v Zverev, from Tennis TV's official channel.

A record, and a run of firsts

Djokovic had not played in Beijing since 2015, when he won the last of his six titles. He arrived unbeaten in 29 matches, and his first win since Wimbledon came against Nuno Borges in the first round. He then beat Bu Yunchaokete in three sets. He is chasing his first title of the season and a 102nd overall.

At 39, he is also the third man since 1973 to beat a top-three player after turning 39, after Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors.

He now leads Zverev 10-5 in their head-to-head. They had not met for almost 16 months, since Roland-Garros in 2025, when Djokovic won the quarter-final 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

What it means for Zverev

Zverev, the world No. 2 and this year's Roland-Garros and US Open champion, had come to Beijing chasing the world No. 1 ranking. The defeat ends the double he needed, by our count on 1 October, to reach No. 1 on 19 October, now that Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Shanghai Masters.

Medvedev next

Medvedev, the third seed, beat Francisco Cerúndolo 7-6(4), 6-3 on Sunday for a seventh straight win, after taking the Hangzhou title last week. Alex de Minaur and Hubert Hurkacz play in the other semi-final.